CHRISTCHURCH, Sept 4, (AFP) - A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused widespread devastation in New Zealand's second largest city of Christchurch Saturday, with officials saying it was “extremely lucky” no one was killed.
Initial estimates put the damage at up to two billion dollars (1.44 billion US) as buildings collapsed, gas, water and sewage lines were ruptured, some bridges became impassable and electricity supplies were cut.
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| A Maori family (L) look at rubble in the street and a row of damaged shops after a powerful 7.0 earthquake in Christchurch on September 4, 2010. |
Frightened residents fled from their homes to find streets covered in rubble and glass, but despite the extent of damage only two people were seriously injured in the city of 340,000 people.
The quake struck just before dawn when few people were on the streets as building facades crashed to the ground, crushing parked cars and showering the roads with shattered glass.
A state of emergency was declared in the city with people being warned to stay away from damaged buildings for fear of further collapses as severe aftershocks continued to rock the city. “I think we've been extremely lucky as a nation that there's been no fatalities... we're blessed actually,” Civil Defence Minister John Carter said after being briefed on the impact of the quake.
He described it as a “significant disaster” and urged people “don't panic” as strong aftershocks continued throughout the day.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said he was “horrified by the amount of damage” which daylight showed was considerably worse than first thought.
“We've decided to declare the state of emergency in the city. It just makes it a bit easier for us now to move people out of buildings if necessary, close streets down,” Parker announced on national radio.
“There would not be a house, there would not be a family in our city that has not in some way have damage done to their person, to their property.
“I think it's like an iceberg; there is ... below the visible line, significant structural damage.”The quake, initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.4, struck at 4:35 am (1635 GMT Friday) at a depth of five kilometres (three miles) some 45 kilometres west of Christchurch, the US Geological Survey said.
“Oh my God. There is a row of shops completely demolished right in front of me,” resident Colleen Simpson told the Stuff website, adding that many people had run out onto the streets in fear.
Christchurch Hospital spokeswoman Michele Hider said two men in their 50s were seriously injured -- one was hit by a falling chimney and the other was cut by falling glass.
Police closed the centre of the city as looters targeted damaged shops, police Inspector Mike Coleman said. |
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